Support for light signals



Aug. 2s, 192s. 1,682,693

. S. M. DAY

SUPPORT FOR LIGHT SIGNALS pri inal Filed Oct. 17 1921 FIG. 1..

Patented Aug. 28, 1-928.

UNITE s'rars rrsnr eerie.

SALISBURY M DAY, or noonnsrnn, new onir, Assren'oa TO GENERAL RAILW YSIGNAL COMPANY, or nocnnsrna, new YORK.

SUPPDRT FOR LIGHT SIGNALS.

Original application filed October 17, 1921, Serial No. 508,184. Dividedand this application filed December 29; 192%.

This invention relates to light signals for railway signalling purposes,and more par ticularly to adjustable supporting means for such signals.a

Color light signals in their typical form comprise a number of lightprojecting units with different colored lenses, as red, green, yellow orthe like, and the different signal indications are given by lighting theelectric lamps of these units one at atime as desired so as to project abeamof colored light. Signals of this kind because they must be visibleat a distance during the daytime as well as at night are required toemit a rather intense beam of light, and inorder to keep the energyconsumption within practical limits it is necessary to make this beam ofrather narrow spread.

In view of the factthat the beam of light emitted from the light signalwhich is to be supported by a support embodying the present invention israther narrow, it is important to have the signal properly positionedso. that it will throw its beam of colored light along the track in theproper direction and atv the proper angle so as to be isible to the bestadvantage by the engineers of approaching trains. The signal supportembodying the present invention is constructalso that the signal may beeasily swung or tilted with respect to its support to any desiredposition, and a simple sighting arrangement is provided to facilitatesuch adjustment without the need of a distant observer.

In the practical application of light signals to the varying conditionsof railway signaling, it is found that various aspects and difij'erentapplications and the like of support for the signal are required.Forexample, at one time one may want a signal capable of giving twodifferent indications commonly termed a two-position signal, at anothertime a three-position signal, and sometimes one may want the signalmounted on the top of a post or pole, and at other times on a bracket.Inorder to get these require ments in the snnplest manner, and moreparticularly obviate necessity oi manufacturing and keeping in stock alarge number or parts to. make up the various combinations required, itis-proposed to design the light signal casing and other partsso thatvthey vention will Serial No. 758,666.

are symmetrical and interchangeable and any oneot the component partsmay be combined together directly and without affecting previousadjustments to makeup a large variety of combinations or assemblages. p1 i Other features and advantages of the inappear as the descriptionprogresses.

In describing the invention in detail,

y 05 Fig. 1 shows a rontelevation ofa two This application is a divisionof the applicationof Salisbury M. -Day for color light signals filedOct. 17, 1921, Ser. No. 508,194.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the signal ismade up in its various combinations of identical light pro- Jectingunits, with casings and various adapters such that these units may beasselnbled together to provide signals giving any desired number andarrangement of indications, and mounted on top of a pole, on a bracket,or the like.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, each casing C, which is preferablymade oil. case lron so as to have the necessary strength and rigidity.This casingC is formed with a large circular opening in its front wall,and is provided with an'open back closed by a movable door 1. This door1 may be con nected to the casing C in any suitablemam ner, but in theconstruction shown the door is formed Wlllll integral lugs at one sidewhich are hmged on cotter pins or the like 35 s gnal unit comprises ingeneral a box-like.

supported by pairs of lugs integral with one side wall of the casing C,so that the door may be swung back and expose the entire inside of thecasing. The door 1 is also preferably provided with a suitable springhasp fastener 2 for pressing the door inward with a gasket.

The top and bottom walls of the casing G.

are constructed identically, and have a raised ridge 0 around the edgewhich is accurately machined in manufacture, a central beveled or cupshaped opening 6, and four holes 7 (only two of which have been'shown).By reason of this construction, two. casings C may be fastened togetherby bolts .8, as

shown in Fig. 1, withtheir machined ridges 5 contacting andlining upthese casings.

A light projecting unit comprising, a lens barrel 9 having an outer lens11 secured thereto by. abezel. ring 12-and bolts 13, is fastened in thelarge opening in the front wall of the casing C. This light projectingunit also includes a suitable incandescent electric lamp which forconveniencehas not been shown in the drawings. Reference should be madeto the parent application for further details "as to the construction ofthis light unit. The bezel ring 12 is provided with a projectingsend-circular ridge upon which is secured hood or sun shade 15.

In order that the signal may be visible at the desired distance andthroughthe desired angle of. spread, it is obvious that the 1 signalshould be pointed accurately in the right direction; andonaccountfof'variations in conditions, it is ordinarily neces sary toadjust and sight each signal. The usual practice of havinga workman atthe signal to adjust it, andan observer at a distance to check up theadjustment, is cumbersome and inefiicient. Not only are experiencedobservers refguired for this purpose,but also great di' cultyisencountered in providing a simple and effective Way of communicating thenecessary unformation from the observer to thesignal. Tofacilitatesuchadjustment a simple and effective sighting device includingaglassdisc 26 is fitted in a small circular opening in the front wall. of' thesignal casing C near one upper corner, this 'disc being held in place bya suitable bezel ring fastened to the easing. At the rear end of thecasingC, back of the disc 26, a smallpeep hole27 is bored in a smallweb. integral with the casing. The glass disc 26 is preferably providedwith aring sand blasted thereon, painted or otherwise made, opaque ornearly so.

While one pair of these sighting apertures is sutlicient for any onesignal, regardless of the number of units making up that signal, forsimplicity and convenience n manufacture, it is preferred to provideeach unit with these sighting apertures.

.Upon looking through the small peep hole 27, thecclear glass of thedisc 26 outsideof thering 26 affords a relatively large field forspotting objects and determining a coarse adjustment, while the smallhole'inside .of the ring 26" forms :a small fieldfor accurate sighting.If desired, the large field -may be proportioned to correspond aproximately with the area of the bean e light frlomLthe signal," so that.an observer can determine roughly, atleast, how to point the anydesired direction. Referringto Fig.1,

this-support oradapter 30 comprises a tubular portion tapered at theupper end and on the inside so as to receive poles orother roundsupports varying in diameter, the ends of these poles seating tightlyagainst this tapered surface. A plurality of adjusting screws 31, two.being shown, are threadedin the tubularportion of the support 30 and areprovided with theusual lock nuts. WVhen-these screws 31 are loosened,the whole support 30 may be turned around the pole, and by adjustingthese screws, the support may-be tilted at any desiredangle in anyvertical plane. When these screws are tightened, the support 30 isrigidly fastened to the pole. a i

i The upper end of the support30 is formed with a shelf or tablejin-themiddle of which is a raised rounded boss32, having a hole thereinthrough which wires may pass.

This table of the support 30 {is provided with four holes toreceivebolts 8 for securing the casing C thereto. This boss 32 is a fineadjustment for setting the signal at any desired angle to throw thebeamalong the. track for short or long range, up or downgrade, and the like.Any signal casing C, either end up, may be attached to the support30;=and by reversing the light projecting unit, including the lensbarrel 9, bezel ring 12,,lamp rece tacle'and theliood 15, the same partsmay e used to makeup a signal in which the doors swing either right orleft handed. j q

Although alarge number of signal as semblage-s may be made up out of theinterchangeable elements described and with any desired number ofsignalunits, the specific arrangementshown in Fig. 1 illustrates a twoposition signal mounted on a bracket. In this specific assembly abracket 33 .is clamped-to the signal pole or other round support, andthe whole signal is carried by this bracket The bracket 33, in the par:ticular form shown, comprises a tapered arm of I beam constructionhaving an integral upstanding tubular extension 33 atone end, and aV-shaped saddle 35 at The tubular extension 33 of the bracket is adaptedto receive the support 30.

Two of the light projecting units hereinbefore described are boltedtogether, one

above the other, to form a two position signal. The wires are carriedthrough a flexible conduit 85 from the pole, through the tubularextension 33, through holes in the boss 32 of the support 30, andbeveledhole 6 into the lower signal casing, and thence to the upper signalcasings through the hole 6 in their adjacent walls, bushings 36 of woodor similar insulating material being preferably inserted in theseholes,as shown. The top of the uppermost signal casing C is finished with asimple cover plate 38.

Various other combinations .ofsignals, capable of giving any desirednumber or arrangements of indications, can be made up out of the unitarysignal embodying this invention. Two, three, or more of these signalunits may be fastened together oneabove the other, and the whole signalmay be mounted upon the upper end of a pole, or upon a. bracket, or on asuitable flat supporting member, or on top of another signal, adjustment for every direction being provided. Two groups of signals, ifdesired, may be placed back to backand supported on two brackets 33clamped to the same pole; or a signal made up of any desired number ofunits may be suspended from a bridge by bolting the top directly to thebridge, or by using the adapter and a short piece of pipe, and so on. Inshort, by providing interchangeable parts, and by. employing a unitaryconst uction. a large variety of sig nals may be assembled out of arelatively small number of parts, so that little stock is required tomeet demands for repairs or installations. Also, signalsalreadyYinstalled may be added to, or otherwise modified as changingconditions may require.

It should also be noted that the bracket33 constitutes a support wherebythe distance between pole and the signal transverse to the trackway canbe conveniently changed.

The particuar construction oflight signal supporting structure shown anddescribed is susceptible of considerable modification and adaptation inpractice, and I desire to have it understood that my invention is notlimited to the specific embodiments herein disclosed exceptas indicatedby the claims.

What I claim is:'

1. An adjustable mounting for light signal casings, comprising, a socketmember having an upwardly tapering conical internal surface, asubstantially cylindrical perforated support of smaller diameter thanthe largest internal diameter of said socket member universallyadjustable therein, bolts threaded into the walls of said socket memberfor clamping said member to said sup port,a,centra1 perforated ballmember on the upper surface of said socket member, a signal casinghavinga matching perforated socket member, and adjusting and fix-y ing meansfor, and spaced from, said ball and socket members. a

2. A light signal for railway signalling ur JOSSS com arisin acasinhavin :1. 'er

a a a: forated openmg 1n its bottom wall, a supporting member for saidcasing having a substantially fiat upper surface, a central ball memberon said upper surface of said' member receivable into said perforatedopenings in said casing and having an opening therein, and bolts foradjustably securing said casing to said'supporting member and passingthrough said flat upper surface of said I supporting member at pointsremote from said opening therein.

3. A mounting for light signals, comprise ing, a hollow cylindricalpost, a support, an upwardly tapering conical socket in the lower faceof said support for universally adjustably receivingthe said post, meansfor fixing the support to the post in adjusted position, a base memberon the upper face of said support, a matching socket member on a lightcasing, matching perforations in the ball and socket members, adjustingand clamping means connected between said casing and support andpositioned Iandspaced from said ball and socket members.

In testimony y y V SALISBURY M. DAY.

whereof I-affix my signature.

